Obituary of Evelyn Brown

Our mom, Evelyn Brown (nee McVeigh) in her 96th year, passed away gently, surrounded by family members, in London, ON on July 14, 2015. Predeceased by her husband, Stanley (October 1994), her twin sister, Shirley (September 1965) and twin grandsons (1972), Evelyn is survived by her four sons and their lovely wives: Martin/Jo Ann, Gary/Joanne, David/Cheryl and Jeff/Lucy along with nine grandchildren: Tara (Bob) Klager, Joel, Meredith, Spencer, Alayna, Kelan, Aaron, Kyle and Keith and two great-grandchildren, Caleb and Malcolm Klager. Born June 21, 1920, in Barrow-in-Furness, County of Cumbria, England, along with her twin sister, Shirley, the McVeigh family later moved to London, England where Evelyn worked for the British Post Office during World War II. She survived the London Blitz (September 1940 until May 1941) and all the travails associated with the German bombings of London, England during WWII. While residing in London, she met her soulmate, Stanley Brown, a Canadian soldier serving in the Highland Light Infantry of Canada. She married Stan twelve days prior to the invasion of Normandy by Allied forces. He was allowed a brief leave to get married and was the last individual permitted to enter the Canadian Armed Forces Base before its lockdown for the D-Day invasion. As a war bride, along with her infant son Martin, she emigrated to Canada on the Queen Mary, landing in August 1946 at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Brown family settled in Cambridge, ON until moving to Ridgetown, ON in 1966. She lived with her family and on her own at 151 Main Street East until 2013 when she moved into the Village on the Ridge retirement home. In May 2014, she took up residence at Extendicare, London ON. Our mom enjoyed reading, knitting, gardening and calligraphy and served as the President of the local chapter of the IODE and the Ridgetown Calligraphy Club. She particularly enjoyed attending organ recitals with Stan, his brother Art and his wife Anna. As well, mom celebrated all occasions when surrounded by family members whom she loved to regale with her detailed anecdotes. Cremation has taken place already and a private family interment service is planned. Please make any donations to the Ridgetown IODE or the charity of your choice. The Brown family would like to extend its gratitude to the staffs of the Village on the Ridge and Extendicare, 860 Waterloo Street, London for the compassionate and caring treatment that she received during her residency. Online condolences may be left at www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com McKinlay Funeral Home 76 Main St. E., Ridgetown 519-674-3141